The impact of perception of school moral atmosphere on college students’ moral sensitivity

This study examines the mediating role of moral identity in the relationship between the perception of school moral atmosphere and moral sensitivity, and the moderating role of belief in a just world in this relationship, using a sample of 658 college students from mainland China and employing path analysis. The results show that: (1) college students' perceptions of school moral atmosphere positively predicted their moral sensitivity; (2) moral identity played a main mediating role in the relationship between the perception of school moral atmosphere and moral sensitivity; and (3) belief in a just world moderated the path through which the perception of school moral atmosphere influences moral sensitivity via moral identity. Therefore, this study draws the following conclusions: the perception of school moral atmosphere affects the moral sensitivity of college students through moral identity, and this effect is moderated by belief in a just world.